National News- Election Commission restriction on carrying cash more than 50 thousand will distort Delhi trade

CAIT has sought appointment with election commission

New Delhi, October 5, 2013: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in a communication sent to Central Election Commission and Delhi Election Commissioner Vijay Dev today has drawn his immediate attention towards his directions issued yesterday advising people not to carry in hand more than Rs.50 thousand as cash for the purpose of expenditure monitoring. Such an order will greatly hamper the trade of Delhi-said Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the CAIT. The CAIT has sought an appointment with Vijay Dev to narrate several problems of the traders of Delhi that may arise due to such an order of the Election Commission. It has also sought an audience with Chief Election Commissioner of India.

In its communication to Election Commission, the CAIT appreciated the basic fundamental behind such decision and fully corroborate the view that illegal money for use in elections needs to be checked but at the same time it will largely disturb smooth activities of business in Delhi. It is further said that festive season has began from today which will last long till mid-December and during these months, traders hopes large volume of business every year.

Khandelwal said that Delhi is the largest distribution centre of trade in the Country and as such large number of traders from other states visit Delhi on daily basis for making purchases. Such an order of the Election Commission will discourage the outstation traders and the trade of Delhi will suffer a lot particularly when these months starting from October till December considered to be first phase of business season in each year. The second phase starts from mid January which last long till May.

He further said that such an order will also disturb the retail markets of Delhi where generally a retailer after closing his shop in the evening has no option but to carry along with him the day's sale in cash and as such shall always be at the inquiring  point of the Authorities. It is further argued that once it is known that a trader is carrying cash along with him, it will also pose security threat and also subject to harassment by the Authorities as general trader has nothing to do with elections but such a blanket order will be proved to be disadvantageous to business activities in Delhi.